Combined power can opener and agitator



March 16, 1954 5, MANNO 2,672,326

COMBINED POWER CAN OPENER AND AGITATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 8

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Salvatore J. Manna INVENTOR.

March 16, 1954 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Salvatore J. Manna INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED POWER CAN OPENER AND AGITATOR Salvatore J. Manno, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 311,070 3 Claims. (01. 259108) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in power driven devices for opening cans, agitating, etc., such as may be used in homes, restaurants, and the like.

In particular, the invention contemplates the combination, in a single tool, of a power driven can opener, an agitator for beverages such as milk shakes, etc., a knife sharpener, and a manual bottle opener, all these devices beingconveniently arranged and available for instantaneous, expeditious use.

With the above more important objects and features in view andsuch other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention with the casing and cover thereof in an open position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, taken from the opposite side and illustrating the casing in its operative position, portions of the device being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container or can sustaining means;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of an enlarged scale, illustrating the motor and clutch;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6'6 in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 1-'! in Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of line 88 in Figure 4.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention is designated generally by the reference character l6 and embodies in its construction a vertically elongated housing l2 having a back portion l4 adapted to be secured to a wall, and also having a front wall l6.

The housing I2 is provided at the front, upper portion thereof with a casing l8 which is hinged to the housing at 26 so that it may be swung from an operative position adjacent the front wall l6 (see Figures 2, 3 and 6) to an inoperative position remote from the front wall (see Figure 1). A resilient clip 2| is provided for sustaining the casing in its operative position.

An agitator shaft 22 is rotatably journaled in a bracket 24 in the casing l8 and extends downwardly therefrom into a container 26 such as is 2 commonly used for milk shakes, or the like, it being understood, of course, that this container does not constitute a component of the invention.

The container 26 is supported at the bottom thereof by a bracket 28 which is pivotally mounted ona pin 36 carried by a slide 32. This slide is movable vertically in a slot 34 provided in the lower portion of the front wall I6 and is guided in its movement by a channel-shaped guide 36 secured to the rear surface of the front wall. The bracket 28 is formed integrally with a cam 38 (see Figure 7) which is engageable with the guide 36 when the bracket is in its forwardly projected position, whereby to lock the bracket at the appropriate height to suit the container 26. However, by simply swinging the bracket 28 upwardly as shown at 46, the cam 38 is released from the guide 36 and the slide 32 may be shifted upwardly or downwardly as desired.

It is to be also noted that the agitator shaft 22 is preferably of a telescopic construction as indicated at 42 so as to accommodate containers 26 of different heights.

The upper edge of able by detent means of the casing I8.

An electric motor bracket means 48 in the container 26 is engage- 44 provided on the underside 46 is mounted by suitable the housing l2 and has a drive shaft 50 which projects through a horizontal partition 52 in the upper portion of the housing and carries a drive pulley 54. This drive pulley has a convex periphery which is frictionally in engagement with a concave periphery of a driven pulley 56, the latter being rotatable on a stub shaft 58 secured to the partition 52.

The front wall I6 of the housing l2 and the adjacent side wall with registering slots (one of which is shown at 60 in Figure 1), whereby a portion of the driven pulley 56 may project into the casing l8 when the casing is in its operative position adjacent the front wall.

In that position the driven pulley 56 frictionally engages a floating pulley 62 which has a convex periphery to engage the concave periphery of the pulley 56. The pulley 62 is rotatably mounted on a pin 64 secured to an arm 66 which is swingably mounted on the aforementioned agitator shaft 22 and is urged by means of a tension spring 66 to a position wherein the pulleys 56, 52 are inoperative engagement. The agitator shaft 22 carries a further pulley 16 which has a concave periphery to frictionally engage the drive pulley '62 and it will be apparent from the foregoing that when the easing !8 is swung to its operative position adjacent the front wall 56, the engagement of the pulleys 56, 62 will impart a rotary drive motion from the motor 46 to the agitator shaft 22. However, when the casing I8 is swung to its inoperative position,

of the casing l8 are provided 'erably having a V-shaped periphery,

3 the pulleys 56, 62 will be disengaged and the drive to the shaft 22 will be interrupted.

The power can opening means comprise a rotary driveinember orlgear imvhich is ,rotatably mounted; on, a stud; shaft "it rigidly; secured to the underside of the partition 52. The gear '52 projects outwardly wall IE to operatively engage the upper edge or' bead of a can 16 which is to befopenedllselh igf ure 1) and the actual can lid severing operation is accomplished by a pair of stationary cutters, Iii which are secured to a vertically swingable name 80 pivoted to the partition 52: area. The frame 8|] includes a cross member 84 and a compression spring 86 is positioned, on the aforementioned stub shaft i between this cross member and th e' gear I2, so asft'o urge thefrai'nefi' ii and the cutters i-t upwardly. However, theframe'fi'ilis also'provided with'a' downwardly extending yoke 8t egu ipped with anactuating button 88 which is; d'isp oseld-forwardlyof the front wall l and is engageableby the can wwhen the latter is in stalled in positi'on, 'In such eventfths engagenient of the can 'lfi' with thebutton'BB draws the entire frame 8d downwardly so as to engage the cu tters lit with the lid offthe can and, at the same time, drive means are established for the gear 1'2 through the medium of a clutch presma described for the purpose of rotating the gear l l and the can therewith.

The-aforementioned clutch means includes a pin-ion 9B which is freely rotatable and sl'idable on the drive sliaft 50 of the motof Miami is in engagement with the gear- 12. The pinion so has a dag. clutch member 92 eng'ageable by. a coacting clutchmemben 9A, the latterbeingslidable on but rotatable with the shaft 50. This is. achieved by means of a pin 56 which extends transverselvthroug-h the clutch member 9A and is slidable in a slot 98 provided in the shaft. 58.

The clutch memberfM- is formed with. an. annular groove which is. engaged. by a fork. we secured to the frame 8%, and as a result, when theframe 80 is swung downwardly, the clutch members 94, 92 are. engaged and rotation is imparted to. the gear 12 bythemotor 4B;

If desired, a guide and supporting bracket Hi2 may. be secured to the front wall 16: to engage theunderside of the. top bead on the can 16 to effectively support the latter while it is being rotated by the gear. 12.

When neither. the agitatingapparatus. nor the can opening apparatus are being, used, a hollow coverltd, hinged to the housing l2. at 20, may be swung to a closed position indicated at H16 in Figure 1.

The. invention also. contemplates the. provision of; means for sharpening knives, or the like, these means consisting of an abrasive wheel, 38, prefe u this wheel being partially exposed in a recess H0 provided on the top H2 of the housing 2. The wheel I08 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft H4 secured to the top H] in a swingable manner by a pivot pin 6;, the shaft H 4, normally being urged up wardly by a spring- I I B However, when a knife, or the like, is applied to the exposed portion of the wheel I08 so as to press the same downwardly, the wheel I08 is frictionally engaged with the aforementioned drive pulley 54 and is rotated thereby.

The operation of the motor. 46 is controlled by a suitable switch I20 mounted on one side of M l2, while the opposite side of the ass es; s rq s id th a ma u b t le p n r ii a eeetegiieeel tyn the housingthrough a slot in the front.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further. description, thereonat this, point, is, deemed g x i While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesinthe details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departingfrorrtthe spirit and scope of the invention ashamed.

Having. described: the claimedas new is:

lfA kitchen utensil comprising a housing having a front wall, a casing connected to said ho sing and swingable toward and away fiom""said front wall, a container supporting means pro; vided on' the front walland on said casingf'a rotatable agitating member carried by andf'e'x tending downwardly from said casing, aca'n lid severing means provided on said front wall-and a motor in said including a rotary drive member,

ing, and means for selectively 'operatiiely invention, what is hous connecting said agitating member and said drive member to said motor. 2. A kitchen utensil comprising a housing having a front wall, a casing" eohnectedtd said hodsing and swingable from an operativeposition adjacent 'the'frontwallto an inoperative position remote therefrom, "a"contaii1er" su port in g means provided on'the'frorit vvall',a rotatable agitatingmemb'er carried byand extend'ing sawhwardly from saidca'sing', a can lid' severing-means provided on said front wall and including "are: tatable drive member, 'a motor mounted-mind housing and including a drive shaftfmeans'foi' operatively connecting said drive shaft arena agitating. member when said casing" is operative position, means' operatively connecting said rotaryi'drive member to said drive. shaft, said last mentioned means including a clutchfand means res'pohsivto pbsitioning' of a cam in 'ngagement withsaid' l-id severing" means for automatically engaging said clutch. 3. A kitchen utensil comprising a housing. having a front wall, a casing connected to Sam-nausing and swingable from an operative position adjacent said front wall to an inoperative posi tion'remote therefrom, a container? supporting means provided. on said front wall andpn's'ald housing; a rotatable agitating memberv carried by and'extending downwardly from'said casing",

a spring-pressed floating pulley mounted in said casing and operatively connected to' said agitating memberfori'rotating the same, a motor in'said housing, and a driven pulley rotatablfmoiinted in said housing and operatively connected to said motor, said floating pulley being en'gageable'with said driven pulley when said casing 'is in its operative position." SALVATORE J. MANNO.

References Cited in the, file of this patent 

